12 Days of Christmas: Day 4

Day 4 of our 12 days of Christmas- each day has a story and a treat or gift idea.  Use them for your family, or as a gift to another family!

Treat/gift idea: Ring Pops

Story:

The Other Wise Man

Each year at Christmas we delight to follow the wise men as they came out of the East and made their way to Bethlehem where they worshipped the newborn kind and laid treasures at His feet. But there was a fourth wise man who also followed the star not only to Bethlehem, but throughout his life, and yet he never found the king. The other wise man’s name was Artaban. He was a kind of unknown soldier who didn’t quite make the headlines. He was also one of the Magi and lived in Persia. He was a man of great wealth, great learning, and great faith. With his learned companions he had searched the scriptures as to the time that the Savior would be born. They knew that a new star would appear and it was agreed between them that Artaban would watch from Persia and the others would observe the sky from Babylon.

On the night that the sign was to be given, Artaban was speaking to nine of his Magi friends in his home. He said to them, “My three brethren are watching in Babylon and I am watching here. If the star appears, they will wait for me for ten days, and then we will all set out together for Jerusalem. I believe the sign will come tonight. I have made ready for the journey by selling all of my possessions and have bought these three jewels: a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl. I intend to present them as my tribute to the king.” He said, “I invite you to make the pilgrimage with us that we may worship the newborn king together.” None of Artaban’s friends would accompany him, so he decided to make the journey alone.

That night, the new star appeared in the sky. Artaban bowed his head. “It is the sign,” he said. “The King is coming, and I will go to meet him.” Artaban immediately got on his horse and began the long journey to Babylon. After nine days of wearying travel, Artaban was very near to the city when he saw a man lying in the roadway. The man’s pale skin bore the mark of a deadly fever. Artaban turned to go, but a sigh came from the sick man’s lips and the bony fingers touched the Magi’s robe. Artaban felt sorry that he could not stay to minister to this dying stranger, as this was the hour toward which his entire life had been directed. He could not forfeit the reward of his years of study and faith to do a single deed of human mercy. But then, how could he leave his fellow man to die?

The Magi were physicians as well as astronomers. He took off his robe and began his work of healing the stranger. Several hours later the patient regained consciousness. Artaban gave him all he had left of his bread and wine. He left a potion of healing herbs and instructions for his care. Though Artaban rode with the greatest haste the rest of the way, it was after dawn that he arrived at the meeting place. His friends were gone.

Artaban sat down upon the ground in despair. “How can I cross the desert alone with no food or drink?” I must return to the city, sell my sapphire, and buy provisions for the journey.

Several days later when Artaban’s train arrived at Bethlehem the streets were deserted. It was rumored that Herod was sending soldiers, presumably to enforce some new tax, and the men had taken their flocks and herds back into the hills beyond his reach. The door of one dwelling was open, and Artaban could hear a mother singing a lullaby to her child. He entered and introduced himself. The woman told him that it was now the third day since the wise men had appeared in Bethlehem. They had found Joseph and Mary and the young child, and had laid their gifts at his feet. Then they had disappeared as mysteriously as they had come. Joseph had taken his wife and babe that same night and had secretly fled. It was whispered they were going far away into Egypt.

Suddenly outside there arose a wild confusion. Someone cried, “The soldiers of Herod are killing little children!” Artaban looked out the doorway and saw soldiers approaching the home. He stood there calmly. Finally his outstretched hand revealed the giant ruby. He said, “I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will go on his way and leave this house alone.” The captain took the gem and said to his men, “March on, there are no children here.”

Then Araban, still following the king, went on to Egypt, seeking everywhere traces of the Holy family. For many years, Araban continued his search. Though he found no one to worship, he found many to serve. As the years passed he fed the hungry, clothed the naked, healed the sick and comforted the captive. Thirty three years had no passed away since Artaban began his search. His hair was now white as snow. He knew his life’s end was near but he was still hoping to find the King. He went for the last time to Jerusalem.

It was the season of the Passover and the city was thronged with strangers. A large group of people were moving together toward the city gate. Artaban inquired where they were going. One answered, “We are going to see the crucifixion of one called Jesus of Nazareth.” Artaban’s heart filled with despair. For a lifetime, he had searched for the Savior. Could this be the same person for whom the star had appeared thirty-three long years ago?

Artaban’s heart beat loudly and he thought, “It may be that I shall yet find the King and be able to ransom him from death by giving my treasure to his enemies.” But as he started toward Calvary he saw a troop of soldiers coming down the street, dragging a sobbing young woman. As Artaban paused, she broke away from her tormentors and threw herself at his feet, her arms clasping around his knees.

“Have pity on me,” she cried, “and save me. My father was also of the Magi, but he is dead, and I am to be sold as a slave to pay his debts.” Artaban trembled as he again felt the old conflict arising in his soul. It was the same that he had experienced in the palm grove of Babylon and in the cottage at Bethlehem. Twice the gift which he had consecrated to the King had been drawn from his hand to serve humanity. Would he now fail again? One thing was clear; he must save this girl from evil. He took the pearl from his pocket. “Daughter, this is the ransom. It is the last of my treasures which I had hoped to keep for the King.”

Suddenly the sky darkened and the earth shook and quaked. The soldiers fled in terror. Artaban sank beside a protecting wall. What had he to fear? What had he to hope for? He had given away the last remnant of his tribute to the King. The quest was over and he had failed. What else mattered? A heavy tile fell from a nearby building, striking Artaban on the head. He lay breathless and pale. The rescued girl leaned over him fearing he was dead. Then there came a still small voice. Then the lips of Artaban ebgan to move, as if in answer and she hear him say, “Not so my Lord; for when saw I thee hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Thirty-three years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face nor ministered unto thee, my King.” As he ceased, the sweet voice came again. This time the maid understood the words which said, “Verily, I say unto thee, that inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me.”